I'm Asian American, and Political Volunteers Don't Talk to Me

[Anonymous]

Maybe you look too smart and they know they won't influence you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in Chevy Chase, DC, a hotbed for the whole Fenty/Gray election, and I noticed that the volunteers on both sides don''t bother to try to engage me when I walk by the community center. They do talk to my white husband, however.

Is this racist? Do the volunteers think that I might not speak English? It is a very white neighborhood, but still, this has happened often enough in the past week (since early voting began) that I've taken notice. I think that in this town, if you are not white or black, you are viewed as non-English speaking and probably not "American."

Well it's at least an example of bias and ignorance if not full-on racism. I wouldn't be surprised if they assume you actually are Michelle Rhee. (Happens to a Korean-American friend of mine all the time.)

PP raised a good point that when you're with your man, people in general will approach him first. Which is STUPID. Why not his two voters at one time with the same pitch? As opposed to 20 minutes with one guy with no party affiliation. (I'm shocked Fenty spent that much time with anyone these days. Were there cameras around?)

So, OP, who are you voting for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need to be a "professional victim" to realize that race still matters--in a lot of settings.

Like in salaries! I see salaries and boy is there a diff-er-ence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People should stop forcing racism into every issue. Yo have a mouth and if you want information from either campaigh, ask.

I tried this today. I walked by the Gray campaign and said (shouted actually) "I'm a white undecided voter, please come talk to me about your ideas and sway me"

Two of the staff laughed and walked away. One started to walk over and then stopped.

So, I guess they were not interested.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for your responses, everyone. (To the person who asked, I'm voting for Fenty.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People should stop forcing racism into every issue. Yo have a mouth and if you want information from either campaigh, ask.

I tried this today. I walked by the Gray campaign and said (shouted actually) "I'm a white undecided voter, please come talk to me about your ideas and sway me"

Two of the staff laughed and walked away. One started to walk over and then stopped.

So, I guess they were not interested.

Perhaps they didn't take you seriously? I wouldn't have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People should stop forcing racism into every issue. Yo have a mouth and if you want information from either campaigh, ask.

Have you ever been a person of color? Been the only woman in a room full of men? Been the only man in a room full of women? If you are treated differently than the vast majority of people around you, you start to wonder why.

Yes, to some of your questions and no, I don't wonder why because I am not a professional victim.

To the PP referencing "forced racism" with the latter two, it stops after you leave the room, bonehead!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People should stop forcing racism into every issue. Yo have a mouth and if you want information from either campaigh, ask.

Have you ever been a person of color? Been the only woman in a room full of men? Been the only man in a room full of women? If you are treated differently than the vast majority of people around you, you start to wonder why.

Yes, to some of your questions and no, I don't wonder why because I am not a professional victim.

I'm with you there. I can answer yes to 2 of those questions. I do not feel like I'm treated differently than the vast majority, however, I do not ponder such issues. Personally, I've never been approached either and I take is as a blessing-how annoying!

[Anonymous]

What difference does this make if you are registered to vote? You can find information you want by going to candidate's website. Why would anyone want to be harranged by political volunteers? It isn't prejudice, you are simply paranoid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there is a slight chance that it is about race to the extent that MAYBE they don't see Asians as being as involved politically? I might be wrong, but is there less involvement in the Asian community?

How on earth would OP know what is going on with all Asians? Is she an Asian American ambassador or something? They are all different people you know.

Didn't you know that all Asians know how other Asians think? They are also cued into each other's histories and cultures. Any Korean will happily any question you may have on Japan or explain to you why there are more Hmongs living in WI than there are in Asia.